My favourite superette, Eastern Temptations, keeps getting better and better. Initially stocked with produce of an Indian bent, the expanded shop now offers an ever-increasing range of both Indian flavoured goods and general produce. I noted a great expansion in the pulses and grains section, with prices which drive home the point that the bizarre sums asked for the same thing at ''health" shops and some supermarkets are fad-driven, and largely about fancy packaging.Eastern offers whole buckwheat, lapsi (cracked wheat) in various forms, kiwicha (amaranth), white quinoa, and a lot more. It even haschia seeds. I mention these only because people seem to have a thing for them right now, and apparently they're a ''superfood" (have you noticed that ''superfoods" are only super for about two years, and then go back to being their pre-fame undelicious selves?) The lentil and bean selection is even more amazing, as is the ever-growing range of rices, with everything from bulk packs of basic long grain to small pretty cloth bags of the finest basmati.The stuff that's always made the place great is still there, most notably the ghee rotis, the marshmallow snakes (agar-agar, no gelatine) and gargantuan, obscenely juicy local dates, dark and swollen as well-fed ticks. Certainly one of the best shops in the city.Eastern Temptations is at 35 Greenhill Road, 011-646-8429To do all of those rice varieties justice, there is no better book to add to your collection than Seductions of Rice by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford.From Mexico, North America and Africa to the Mediterranean, Middle East, China, Japan and India, rice of every possible variety is explored, along with a history of rice cultivation, and indispensable notes on correct cooking methods.The recipes aren't just for rice items, but also for the dishes that are traditionally served alongside. Mexican Green Rice, Oaxacan Rice Pudding and Eggplant with Spicy Sesame Sauce are among my favourites.This book (and its award-winning authors) is often referred to by other food writers and cooks - with good reason. Published by Artisan Press and available online for R369.Books on curries are a dime a dozen, but really great ones are thin on the ground. My latest indulgence is Rick Stein's very beautiful India (subtitledIn Search of the Perfect Curry). Dishes such as Pepper & Tomato Sour Soup, Bean, Carrots & Peas with Fresh Coconut, plus fantastic seafood curries are some of the joys within this perfectly curated and magnificently photographed selection. As always, Stein shows great respect for the traditional ingredients and methods he encounters, so if you're looking for modernised or fusion versions of such dishes, this is not the place.Published by BBC Books, R599..